Empire actress Taraji P. Henson is the hottest woman in Hollywood at the moment.

The Oscar nominee alongside her co-star, Jussie Smollett helped kick off the start of summer in Manhattan with MYX Fusions Moscato at their Summer Sizzle BVI 2015 Launch Party.

The beverage company which is owed by entertainment mogul Money Scott Young and female rapper Nicki Minaj hosted a party to help launch Summer Sizzle BVI 2015 (an international party event in the British Virgin Islands) at Ricco Maresca Galley in NYC. The 7th annual Summer Sizzle BVI event takes place July 23-27 in the British Virgin Islands.

Henson and Smollett also hosted the event which included the refreshing natural flavors of MYX Moscato, Peach and Mango throughout the evening.

The D.C.-native (Taraji P. Henson) will return to CBS‘s Person Of Interest series on April 14th. Her character was killed off in the third season, but now she shooting some “flashback” scenes. The series is billing the episode as a “Final Farewell”. This weekend she is hosting SNL.

Finally, Henson is working on a memoir. The deal is with Simon & Schuster imprint 37 Ink and is scheduled for release in mid 2016. It will be about her childhood in the rough streets of Washington, D.C., journey to Hollywood and much more.

Jussie and Taraji

Photos Credit: Patrick Neree

Actress Taraji P. Henson is currently on her Europen press tour promoting her hit show Empire. So far, she made stops in Paris and London. The award winning actress paired a Cynthia Rowley Floral Flare Dress with nude pumps.

In the photo below, media personality turned actress Lala Anthony kept it causal in a white tee paired with black pants. Her look was accessorized with a royal Chanel bag and neon pumps.

Photos Credit: Instagram

Actress Taraji P. Henson was just named one of PEOPLE‘s “Most Beautiful“.

The Empire star is one of the publication’s Most Beautiful 2015. Photographer Allen Cooley shot the image.

Gabrielle Union also made the list here.

Below is an excerpt from Henson‘s feature.

“Henson may not have a lot of love for her character on Empire – “No, I hate that b—-. She’s stolen my identity!”, she told Seth Meyers – but the actress’s captivating portrayal of Cookie has finally put Henson directly in the limelight, where she belongs. The actress, who’s a longtime Hollywood veteran, never fails to charm us with her beauty and sharp wit.”

Photo Credit: Allen Cooley for PEOPLE

Kerry Washington

Last night Monday (May 4), Anna Wintour‘s 2015 Met Gala was held at Manhattan‘s The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Some of our favorite fashionistas, fashionistos, models, designers, singers, rappers, athletes, actresses and actors flocked to NYC for fashion’s biggest night of the year.

The theme celebrates the upcoming exhibit, “China: through The Looking Glass.”

Scandal actress Kerry Washington walked the red carpet in a pink Prada ball gown accessorized with a Prada clutch & shoes and Harry Winston jewelry.

Singer and television judge Jennifer Lopez wore a red sequined Versace dress with sheer cutouts.

Fabolous and Taraji P. Henson

Empire‘s Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) flocked to Sin City for Memorial Day Weekend.

While in Las Vegas, the A-list actress attended rapper Fabolous‘ concert at Tao Beach at the Venetian. After the concert, Henson partied it up with her actor friend, Kevin Hart at Tao nightclub, where she also caught up with Empire‘s creator, Lee Daniels.

Lee Daniels and Taraji.

Kevin Hart and Taraji.

Before rapper Fabolous flew to Sin City for Memorial Day Weekend, he partied it up with West coast rapper, The Game at Miami‘s Club Story. 

While in Las Vegas, the Def Jam rapper hosted a concert at Tao Beach at the Venetian. After the concert, the Brooklyn-native partied it up with his actor friend, Kevin Hart and actress Taraji P. Henson at Tao nightclub. 

Fab also attended Kevin Hart‘s ‘Want Now‘ tour at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

He also paid homage to 90’s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air by wearing a BELAIR Academy jersey.

Kevin Hart and Fabolous

Fabolous and Taraji P. Henson

Successful actress Taraji P. Henson covers the July 2015 issue of Allure magazine.

The Empire star was lensed by Carter Smith for this shoot. In her spread, the Howard University alumni opt for a 70s-inspired shoot.

I am so proud of the D.C.-native and single mother. She worked so hard to get to where she is and her success didn’t happen overnight. It took her 14-years to get to this point!

Inside, the actress explains why she does not get romantically involved with the guys she works with in the industry.

“I always wanted to be known for my work. Not who I dated. Not who I slept with…. I have a gift, and my gift is acting,” Henson says.

She added, “I started in the business at 26 with a kid, so I was smart enough to know reality from fantasy. I didn’t want to blur the lines. This is a job that I have to do. I cannot get caught up in it. And if I sleep with these guys, why would they want to work with me again?”

Photos Credit: Carter Smith

Empire‘s Cookie aka Taraji P. Henson is landing on the cover of these fashion publications left-to-right. She last cover the Allure July 2015 issue here.

Now the Howard University alumni is covering W magazine‘s August 2015 issue. In the Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott lensed shoot, Henson styles in a Theory henley, AG jeans, Equipment blouse, Roberto Cavalli dress, Sportmax dress and more. Edward Enninful handled styling duties.

Inside, she talks about her role as Cookie as Empire.

“They want Cookie,” Henson says, referring to how her fans react to her now because of her role on the Lee Daniels-produced show. “They see her heart. They see her intentions. And they love her style—her style is 17 years behind the fashion curve, which makes the clothes a character on the show. As Cookie grows, you’ll see her fashion grow. And people love that—she’s a work in progress. The only thing that never changes is her spirit: To me, Cookie is living, breathing, walking truth.”

She also admits that she wasn’t too sure about taking the role. “I was like, This is stupid,” Henson says. “Hip-hop—dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. But then I started to think, Cookie is going to piss so many people off! She hits her son with a broom; she talks back. Clearly, this was a challenge.”

Actress Taraji P. Henson who’s currently starring as Cookie Lyon on Lee Daniels and Fox‘s, Empire is featured in People magazine.

Inside, she talks to Partick Gomez about Black women on television today versus 20/30 years ago and playing Cookie on the record breaking show.

“Growing up, it was rare for me to see a woman that looked like me that inspired me,” the actress, 44, says. “So it was very important for me to portray Cookie. I didn’t want to [screw] it up.”

“She’s such a powerhouse, so I was very delicate with her,” says Henson, whose portrayal of Cookie has garnered her an Emmy nomination for outstanding leading actress in a drama. “She can be really bigger than life, so I took very good care into making her someone that people could identify with – a real person, not just a caricature who could be sassy and roll her neck.”

Photo Credit & Source: People

Lee Daniels‘ Empire returns next month on Fox; so obviously it’s Taraji P. Henson season. The successful actress is featured in People magazine here. Just that fast, the Howard University alumni nabbed another feature for a major publication.

Henson is featured in Harper’s BAZAAR magazine.

Michael Avedon was behind the lenses. She styles in a Dolce & Gabbana dress, Early Halloween hat, Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses, Banana Republic jacket and Roberto Cavalli caftan.

You could head over to Harper’s BAZAAR to read the article.

Photos Credit: Michael Avedon

Last week, donbleek.com reported that Saks Fifth Avenue has teamed up with Fox to produce a “multiplatform partnership” around the hit series Empire (see it here) and we also posted their editorial, titled “The Most Powerful Names in Fashion Today” for Vogue September 2015 issue (see it here).

The Lyon family are now posing together in matching white and gold ensembles for People.

Empire stars Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Trai Byers, Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett, Andre’s wife Rhonda, Anika and the family’s assistants are featured in this image.

The highly anticipated show will premiere on September 23.

Photo Credit: People

Empire actress Taraji P. Henson is the hottest woman in Hollywood at the moment.

The Oscar nominee alongside her co-star, Jussie Smollett helped kick off the start of summer in Manhattan with MYX Fusions Moscato at their Summer Sizzle BVI 2015 Launch Party.

The beverage company which is owed by entertainment mogul Money Scott Young and female rapper Nicki Minaj hosted a party to help launch Summer Sizzle BVI 2015 (an international party event in the British Virgin Islands) at Ricco Maresca Galley in NYC. The 7th annual Summer Sizzle BVI event takes place July 23-27 in the British Virgin Islands.

Henson and Smollett also hosted the event which included the refreshing natural flavors of MYX Moscato, Peach and Mango throughout the evening.

The D.C.-native (Taraji P. Henson) will return to CBS‘s Person Of Interest series on April 14th. Her character was killed off in the third season, but now she shooting some “flashback” scenes. The series is billing the episode as a “Final Farewell”. This weekend she is hosting SNL.

Finally, Henson is working on a memoir. The deal is with Simon & Schuster imprint 37 Ink and is scheduled for release in mid 2016. It will be about her childhood in the rough streets of Washington, D.C., journey to Hollywood and much more.

Jussie and Taraji

Photos Credit: Patrick Neree

Most of us are excited for the return of Lee Daniels and Fox‘s Empire. Season 2 premieres September 23. Taraji P. Henson also known as Cookie is covering the October 2015 issue of Glamour magazine.

Photographer Steven Pan lensed the shoot.

Check out some excerpts from the Emmy-nominated actress’ interview.

GLAMOUR: We were hooked on Empire from the pilot. How did you find out you had scored the Emmy nod?
TPH: [Before the nominations] everybody kept saying to me, “Have you cleaned your mantel off?” I said, “Everybody chill.” I knew the day was coming, but I didn’t watch the nominations. I was getting ready to go to work. The phone rang, and it was my manager. I was like, “OK, he’s clearly not calling with bad news.” [Laughs.]
GLAMOUR:Why do you think people connect so strongly to Cookie?
TPH: She is everybody’s alter ego. She crosses cultures. [Last year] we went to Paris and screened the pilot for a thousand people. Lee Daniels [the series’ cocreator] brought me onstage. The audience stood up on their feet and clapped. I cried because, for so long in Hollywood, I’ve been told that black women don’t do well overseas, that they can’t open a film overseas. That moment for me was the best moment of my life. That’s better than any trophy, any award, any nomination. You know how they say music can heal the world? I feel that way about art in general.

GLAMOUR: Cookie’s got major confidence. How do you deal with scrutiny when the spotlight’s so hot? When you’re in a rut, how do you get your mojo back?
TPH: I don’t think about other people. They are not walking in my shoes. They are not paying my bills. What makes me happy is when I do what I like to do, for me.

Jussie Smollett, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Trai Byers, and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray.

The cast of Lee Daniels and Fox‘s Empire are covering the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter.

Eric Ray Davidson lensed the shoot.

Empire Season 2 premieres on September 23rd.

Taraji P. Henson

Bryshere “Yazz” Gray

Trai Byers, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Bryshere “Yazz” Gray and Jussie Smollett

Empire‘s Taraji P. Henson covers Essence magazine‘s November 2015 issue.

On the cover, the successful actress and Howard University alumni looks fabulous in a Fausto Puglisi High Slit Coral Embellished Dress from the brand’s Fall 2015 collection. Henson was styled by Jason Rembert. Below are some excerpt:

On working years to get to where she is at:

“I’m just gonna keep amassing an audience,” says the Oscar– and Emmy-nominated actress. “Everything was strategically planned. This is what all my efforts are for.”

On the importance of taking the business of acting seriously:

“These kids are thinking they can do reality TV and come and do this craft that I studied, sweated and grinded,” says Henson. “People forget it’s a craft because it’s so pop now…Can they make me believe the words coming out of their mouth?”

Photo Credit: Essence.com

Empire‘s star Taraji P. Henson is featured in CR Fashion Book Issue 7.

The black and white images were lensed by Bruce Weber. In the images, the successful actress who moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams with just $700 styles in luxury looks. She wears a custom Balenciaga dress, Dior shoes, Alexander Wang dress, Miu Miu sweater, Marc Jacobs dress, Wolford briefs, and a Dior jumpsuit.

In the shoot, the Washington D.C.-native is rocking her “around the way girl” cornrows.

The reason why she rocked cornrows for the shoot:

“I wear wigs a lot, especially for photo shoots. I have this girl Kendra who braids my hair. She braids so intricately, so beautifully. So I’m trying on the clothes and the silk scarf I have on my head slips off, and I say, “Hey, look at my cornrows, aren’t they beautiful?” Bruce Weber is standing there and he goes, “We’ll shoot that.” And I go,“What? We’ll shoot what?” And he says, “We’ll shoot your hair just like that, it’s beautiful.” And part of me was like, No, no, no, NO! This is the hair no one is supposed to see. This is like behind-closed-doors hair. I feel naked. I feel like a plucked chicken…or a wet one. A baby chicken! But Bruce says to me, “It’s not about the hair, it’s your face.” So I just decided to trust the artist’s vision. As an actress that’s what we do. We are vulnerable every time we put our art out there. Underneath that hair is my soul, and it’s me, it’s mine.”

On praying for longevity:

“You want to talk about real? You want to talk about the truth? I am 45 this year, and look at my career. Maybe I wasn’t here to be hot and young, but I still look hot and young. Early on, I prayed for longevity. I had to plant my feet into the earth and pray to God and say, “This is what I want.” I thought, Brace yourself, this is a man-made world. Calm your tits, this is just the ride.”

Actress Taraji P. Henson also known as Cookie Lyon on Lee Daniels and Fox‘s Empire covers The Hollywood Reporter‘s Annual Beauty Issue alongside her makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff.

The two women were photographed at The 24th Street Loft in New York City for the publication’s forth annual Beauty Issue.

David Needleman lensed the shoot.

According to Ashunta Sheriff, Henson’s makeup artist both onscreen and off-, “Cookie is uninhibited, and that is giving women the courage to try new things. She isn’t afraid of the trends, whether it’s a dark plum or bright turquoise eye shadow.”

Says Sheriff: “Cookie has a few lipstick colors and one basic lash, and we keep it like that because that works for her character. Taraji is many characters.”

Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder), Uzoamaka Nwanneka “Uzo” Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Kerry Washington (Scandal), Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane) and Brandy Norwood (Zoe Ever After) are all currently starring on hit sitcoms, so it’s obviously that Black women are winning in Hollywood. After years of racism and gender separation, it seems like Black women are finally getting opportunities in Hollywood. Over the past few years, Black women have been starring in major roles on primetime and cable television.

“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” Viola Davis said during her Emmy Award acceptance speech.

For its February 2016 issue, ELLE magazine is celebrating women in television.

Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis are two of the five cover stars for the publication’s sixth annual ‘Women in Television‘ issue. Aside from celebrating her new cover, Henson has another reason to celebrate. Last Sunday, she won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Television Series for Empire.

“It was very important to me that [Cookie Lyon] not be sassy and neck-rollin’ and eye-bulgin’ and attitude all the time. Everything she does is coming from a place of fighting for her family. That’s why she’s not a caricature,” says Henson in ELLE.

“We’ve been fed a whole slew of lies about women.” By TV standards, “if you are anywhere above a size 2, you’re not having sex. You don’t have sexual thoughts. You may not even have a vagina. And if you’re of a certain age, you’re off the table,” says Davis in ELLE.

Empire‘s Taraji P. Henson is the latest celebrity to collaborate with MAC Cosmetics. The Howard University alumni brings her charismatic spark and powerhouse confidence to M·A·C with #MACTaraji, coming in September.

Below is an excerpt from MAC‘s press release via their Instagram:

“Taraji P. Henson has won the world over with her fearless performances, powerhouse confidence and charismatic spark. We’re thrilled to announce she is joining forces with M·A·C for an upcoming collaboration!”

In related Henson news, the Washington D.C. – native will release her memoir, Around The Way Girl on October 11. Below is an excerpt:

‘I love to play all kinds of characters, and I was trained to do exactly that. But whether it’s Cookie from Empire, Queenie from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Yvette from Baby Boy, or rocket scientist Katherine Johnson from Hidden Figures, they’re characters. As for the real me, I’m just a girl who went to Hollywood with my son, $700, and a dream. There were some detours along the way, some heartache, and a whole lot of hustle. My family, friends, and fans always keep it real with me. Know that I’m going to keep it real with you. Check out my story. I hope you laugh with me and cry with me and maybe get a little bit inspired.”

See some of #‎MACTaraji‬ products on the next page:

Empire‘s Taraji P. Henson covers the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. The 45-year-old BET and Golden Globe Award winner is gearing up for Season 3 of Fox and Lee Daniels‘ Empire and the release of upcoming memoir, Around The Way Girl (on sales October 11). She’s also releasing a cosmetics line with MAC, and starring in Hidden Figures (due this winter), in which she plays real-life NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson “This is my first time carrying a show and then going to carry a movie,” says Henson. “That’s a lot. It’s so stressful, and I had to really check myself because it’s so easy to take for granted when you get to a certain level. Like check yourself because people pray to be here.”

Below are some excerpts from Henson‘s interview with EW:

How long does she want to be play Cookie on Empire?

“Well of course, I want it to go into syndication,” the actress tells EW on Empire’s Chicago set. “It’s not like it’s a bad job. You see how much fun we have. Even with the crew, you can feel the energy on this set. So it’s not like it’s a bad job. But what I’m starting to find is that now I’m getting more offers for features.”

Henson adds, “I love features ‘cause it’s a chance for everybody to remember she’s a character actress, not just Cookie.”

And there are personalities Henson still wants to portray. Says the actress: “I haven’t played a superhero yet, I haven’t played a psycho character yet. I want to play a man, like I want to really disappear. I have so much to do.”